How much humidity does a ball python need?
Ball Pythons hail from hot, rather dry savannah grassland regions in Africa. Therefore, they do not need much humidity in captivity. The tank should not be bone dry, but a large water dish placed in the tank for drinking and soaking will work fine for also raising the humidity somewhat. It is not necessary to “mist” ball pythons, in fact it can be harmful. If ball pythons are kept too wet, they can develop blister disease. These usually appear as raised, blister-like bumps on the top of the snake, and can appear as a pus-like material underneath the scales on the belly of the snake. It can eventually cause the scales to come off of the snake, causing scarring, and if left untreated, death. Applying Betadine to the affected area a few times a day when the symptoms are first noticed can help get rid of this. If the scales are already coming off, then antibiotics will be required.
